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By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – As an institution mandated to protect and promote human rights in Nigeria, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has tasked governments at state and national levels, including the legislatures, the Nigerian Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies to prioritise security of lives as a fundamental obligation of governance and human rights.
The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr Tony Ojukwu who made the call on Friday while making presentation of the April 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard, painted a grim picture of the human rights landscape in the country. The report reveals a troubling surge in complaints and violations, signaling a deepening crisis that demands immediate and collective action.
According to Ojukwu, the NHRC received a staggering 261,483 complaints in April 2025, a figure that underscores the severity of the ongoing human rights violations. However, Ojukwu emphasized that these numbers represent only the visible portion of a much larger crisis, one that is deeply entrenched in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions, particularly in Plateau, Benue, and Borno States.
The situation, according to the report, has reached its worst point in nearly a year, with widespread violence, forced displacements, and killings. In Plateau and Benue states, attacks have led to the death and injury of hundreds of citizens, while the resurgence of Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks in Borno state continues to fuel insecurity.
In a scathing critique, Ojukwu highlighted that Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to protecting citizens’ security and welfare has been increasingly violated. He referenced Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, which mandates that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” a principle that is being disregarded amid growing unrest.
The crisis in the Middle Belt, which has plagued Nigeria for decades, continues to escalate, with atrocities becoming disturbingly routine. Ojukwu called for the nation to reject the normalization of violence, stressing that the ongoing bloodshed, particularly against innocent civilians, cannot be treated as business as usual. Adding that every failure to name these violations, to investigate them, and to hold perpetrators accountable represents a betrayal of our national and moral responsibilities. It is reneging on our national, regional and international obligations to protect human rights.
“Silence in the face of injustice is complicity,” Ojukwu declared. He urged all levels of government, including the Nigerian Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, to prioritize the protection of citizens’ lives as a fundamental obligation.
He reiterated the commitment of the NHRC to ensuring accountability and justice for the victims of these atrocities and called for independent and impartial investigations into all reported killings and displacements, comprehensive support for survivors—especially women and children—and a concerted push for peace-building and community reconciliation.
In his further call to action, Ojukwu stressed that the right to life and dignity is non-negotiable and that the state must fulfill its responsibility to safeguard these rights. He reminded Nigerians that human rights are not simply numbers or statistics but reflect the nation’s commitment to human dignity, justice, and equality.
“The time has come to confront these challenges with courage and conviction, recognizing that every Nigerian life matters,” Ojukwu concluded.
